lease renewal in NY is a bit quirky and even more so if you are in NYC and under rent stabilization ...in a sense it's to LLs advantage to change things so as to get rent increases in place and rents in NYC are one rise..If you are in NYC.
I strongly suggest you dig into whatever the rules are as to your specific jurisdiction.
As I understand it in NYC the tenant has what amount to renewal rights .
It's not your LLs job to sort out games of who turns the hot water off! If you and your GF cannot co exist with the others, then it's perhaps time to move on?

